Sie Family Research Summit on Down Syndrome

In 2006, Anna and John J. Sie, along with their daughter Michelle Sie Whitten, organized a summit gathering some of the world’s best scientists, including Nobel Laureate Tom Cech, to explore the possibility of breakthrough research for people with Down syndrome. Many of the scientists were skeptical about just how much could be done through science to improve the lives of people with Down syndrome. But at the end of the summit, the scientists had two major reactions:

shock that Down syndrome was the least-funded genetic condition by the National Insitutes of Health, and

confidence that given recent advances in science and technology, measurable breakthrough for people with Down syndrome could be accomplished in a short period of time with appropriate levels of funding.

The scientists, who gathered for the summit held at the University of Colorado Boulder, gave the Sies hope and changed the course of the Sies’ focus to include and emphasize making a difference for people with Down syndrome through critically needed research that would allow for the best medical care.

As a result of this Summit, the Anna and John J. Sie Foundation provided “Call to Action” grants to scientists tackling the new approaches and findings inspired by the results of this Summit. The top 13 research projects, out of more than 100 proposals, were awarded a total of $1 million in grant funding.

The following projects received “Call to Action” grants:Neural stem cells as potential for Down Syndrome Using Young and Aged Trisomic Ts65Dn Mice

LINDA CRNIC INSTITUTE FOR DOWN SYNDROME

Established in 2008, the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome is the first academic home for Down syndrome research in the United States. The mission of the Crnic Institute is to significantly improve the lives of people with Down syndrome by eradicating the medical and cognitive ill effects associated with the condition.